One Year Countdown to World Junior Championships in Eugene

7/22/2013

INDIANAPOLIS - One year from today the best junior athletes from around the world will gather at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. for the 15th IAAF World Junior Championships, July 22-27, 2014.

It is the first time the event will be held in the U.S. and the first time in 22 years that an IAAF event has been staged on U.S. soil. USA Track & Field and the TrackTown USA Local Organizing Committee are partners in hosting this huge international championship showcase.

“We are excited to partner with the TrackTown USA, the University of Oregon, the state and the IAAF to bring this important event back to U.S. soil,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “Exactly one year from today, the stars of the future will compete on one of the most famous tracks in the world. This meet is an important step in the United States re-establishing ourselves as a host of championship events, and we look forward to returning to Hayward for yet another world-class meet.”

In a special ceremony beginning at 6 p.m., President of TrackTown USA Vin Lananna will unveil the IAAF World Junior Championships Oregon 2014 logo and invite more than 200 local children to participate in a flag parade and welcome photo, which will be distributed worldwide. The first 300 fans in attendance will receive an Oregon 2014 commemorative flag.

“In just one year, the best young athletes in the world will be representing their countries in an electrifying competition at Hayward Field,” Lananna said. “We are excited about this fantastic opportunity to host an international meet that will be unlike any other event we’ve ever held in TrackTown USA.”

Those who are not able to attend in person can participate through a “Raise Your Flag” social media campaign. Simply show support for your country by taking a photo of you or a friend raising your country’s flag and posting it to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #raiseyourflag. All photos uploaded will be collected and viewable online at the World Junior Championships event website: www.oregon14.com.